Duncan Phyfe

Master Cabinetmaker in New York

Kenny Peter M., Brown Michael K., Bretter Frances F., Thurlow Matthew A.

Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854), known during his lifetime as the "United States Rage", to this day remains America's best-known cabinetmaker. Establishing his reputation as a purveyor of luxury by designing high-quality furniture for New York's moneyed elite, Phyfe would come to count among his clients some of the nation's wealthiest and most storied families. This richly illustrated volume covers the full chronological sweep of the craftsman's distinguished career, from his earliest furniture – which bore the influence of his 18th-century predecessors George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton – to the elaborately embellished Grecian pieces that were entirely his own. More than sixty works by Phyfe and his workshop are highlighted, including rarely seen pieces from private collections and several newly discovered documented works. Additionally, essays by leading scholars bring to light new information on Phyfe's life, his workshop production, and his roster of illustrious patrons. What unfolds is the story of Phyfe's remarkable transformation from a young immigrant craftsman to an accomplished master cabinetmaker and an American icon.

About the Author

Peter M. Kenny is Ruth Bigelow Wriston Curator of American Decorative Arts and Administrator, The American Wing, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Michael K. Brown is curator, Bayou Bend Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Frances F. Bretter, an independent scholar, was formerly research associate, The American Wing, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Matthew A. Thurlow, formerly research associate, The American Wing, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is on the staff of the Winterthur Museum.

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